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Home , Padre Pio, Pope Pius I

Learn the Faith

• Was born Francesco Forgione on May 25, 1887 in . He was an extremely devout Catholic and made the decision to dedicate his life to Christ at the age of 5. • Reported to have the ability to see guardian angels and speak to and Mary. • His family was poor and from a young age worked as a shepherd tending a small flock of his family’s sheep. • He entered into the of the Capuchin at the age of 15 and took on the name of “Pio” in honor of Pius I. • At the age of 17 he became ill and was only able to digest milk and cheese. As a result of his poor health he was sent home where he continued to study for the priesthood. • In 1910 he was ordained a but was permitted to remain home because of his health. • On September 20, 1916 while hearing confessions he began to feel pain in his feet and hands. Upon investigating this pain he discovered that he had received the . o Stigmata – describes the spontaneous appearance of the wounds experienced by our crucified Lord. The first reported account of the stigmata occurred on St. . • The Church investigated his claim to the stigmata and they concluded that it was not faked. • He opened a hospital in in 1956 • Died on September 23, 1968 and was recognized as a on June 16, 2002. • He is the of adolescents.

Love the Faith

Despite St. ’s poor health he was known for his powerful interactions with others. His love of the faith and hopeful nature allowed him to remain joyful and welcoming to those around him. One of the ways that we can show our love for our faith is through our interactions with others. Ministry is relational and it is our relationships with the youth we serve that will bring them back to the programs, events, and groups that we run. Ice breakers are a great way to start building these relationships and often reveal things about individuals that you might not have known. One of my favorite ice breakers to utilize when first meeting people is Two Truths and a Lie.

For this ice breaker each person is asked to think of three statements about themselves, two that are true and one that is a lie. After relaying these three statements everyone else will attempt to guess which one is a lie. Not only do you end up discovering new information about each participant, it also tends to be a fun activity that sparks conversation.

Live the Faith

Padre Pio was viewed as a wonderful and amazing confessor. He was able to look into the of those who came to him to confess and through the allowed them to experience Christ’s mercy. Many would often travel a great distance to visit St. Padre Pio and experience the healing provided by this Sacrament. Understanding and explaining the love of God that is revealed through this Sacrament can help encourage individuals to utilize Reconciliation and obtain the healing it provides. Taking the time to discuss this Sacrament, and the benefit that we receive from it, opens the door for other to desire this grace filled mercy. Often this Sacrament can be intimidating and as a result avoided all together. Addressing the concerns and fears that the youth have, while also modeling participation in this Sacrament can help alleviate these fears and promote the reception of Reconciliation. When I was a catechist one of the ways I assisted the youth in being comfortable with attending confession was by participating in the Sacrament with them. In the religious education program that I volunteered for we celebrated this Sacrament once or twice a year. On the days that this occurred I would speak to the youth about their fears and trepidation. Additionally, I would also address the importance and beauty of receiving absolution. Explaining to them the wonderful nature of forgiveness, while also modeling this to them by receiving the Sacrament, made the youth far more comfortable and willing to participate themselves. Most of the youth would return expressing how good they felt afterwards and confused as to why they were so fearful in the first place.

Prayer for the Intercession of St. Padre Pio

Dear God, You generously blessed Your servant, St. Pio of , with the gifts of the Spirit. You marked his body with the five wounds of Christ Crucified, as a powerful witness to the saving Passion and Death of Your Son. Endowed with the gift of discernment, St. Pio labored endlessly in the confessional for the salvation of souls. With reverence and intense devotion in the celebration of , he invited countless men and women to a greater union with Jesus Christ in the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.

Through the intercession of St. Pio of Pietrelcina, I confidently beseech You to grant me the grace of (here your petition). Amen.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end.

Amen (Say three times)